Skin Condition Sensor Sheet for Targeted Iontophoresis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing percutaneous penetration enhancing apparatuses face challenges in accurately determining and effectively targeting skin areas requiring penetration enhancement, often applying the process where it is not necessary or failing to apply it where needed, due to difficulties in identifying deep skin blemishes and inefficiencies in the application process.

Innovation Solution

A percutaneous penetration enhancing apparatus equipped with skin condition sensors and corresponding penetration enhancing elements on a flexible sheet device that covers the skin, using iontophoresis to deliver cosmetic agents only to areas identified by the sensors as needing treatment, with a control unit to manage the application process and ensure targeted penetration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If percutaneous penetration enhancing apparatuses are used to deliver cosmetic agents to the skin, then the penetration of cosmetic agents is enhanced, but it is difficult to effectively target specific areas with blemishes due to inability to accurately identify and determine skin conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepenetration enhancement efficiencyVSAvoidskin condition detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual visual inspection and mechanical application methods with optical detection systems and automated control mechanisms. Sensors detect skin conditions optically, and a control unit automatically determines which areas require treatment, eliminating the imprecision of manual assessment and enabling accurate targeting of blemished areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The apparatus performs self-diagnosis by using sensors to detect skin conditions and automatically determines treatment areas without external intervention. The system self-regulates the penetration enhancement process by controlling the application of cosmetic agents only to identified problem areas, improving both accuracy and efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If penetration enhancement is applied to entire skin areas, then all regions are treated, but cosmetic agents are wasted on areas without blemishes and necessary treatment is missed on deep skin blemishes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment coverage completenessVSAvoidcosmetic agent waste

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by applying different treatments to different skin areas based on their specific conditions. The control unit directs cosmetic agents only to areas detected with blemishes, creating a non-uniform treatment pattern that matches the non-uniform distribution of skin problems, thereby eliminating waste on healthy areas while ensuring complete coverage of affected areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses sensors to continuously monitor skin conditions and provides feedback to the control unit, which adjusts the treatment application in real-time. This closed-loop control ensures that cosmetic agents are applied only where needed, preventing both waste on healthy areas and missed treatment on blemished areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If manual intervention is used to identify and treat skin areas, then flexibility is maintained, but the process is time-consuming and prone to human error in identifying deep blemishes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational flexibilityVSAvoidtreatment application time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual inspection and application with automated sensing and control systems. The sensors rapidly scan skin areas and the control unit automatically determines treatment zones, eliminating the time-consuming nature of manual processes while maintaining the flexibility to adapt to different skin conditions through programmable algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The apparatus effectively performs the penetration enhancing process only on areas with blemishes, reducing unnecessary application and improving the efficiency of cosmetic agent delivery, allowing for precise and efficient skin treatment without manual intervention.

Implementation Method 1

the percutaneous penetration enhancing elements perform iontophoresis

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIontophoresis: Iontophoresis

Data Source

PatentEP2889053B1Percutaneous penetration enhancing apparatus

Publication Date: 2020.02.26 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

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AI summary

A percutaneous penetration enhancing apparatus includes a sheet member capable of being placed on a skin; a plurality of skin condition sensors arranged on the sheet member, each of the plurality of skin condition sensors detecting information related to a condition of the skin; and a plurality of percutaneous penetration enhancing elements arranged on the sheet member, each of the plurality of percutaneous penetration enhancing elements being operated on the basis of the information detected by one or more of the plurality of skin condition sensors.